When an Officer resigns his commission to go Enlisted, how is his new Enlisted rank determined?

MSgt Robert Branscome - Had I stayed officer, my position would have been increasingly detached from the enlisted. Sure they'd see me, and sure I'd interact with them, but it's not the same. By the time most Army officers make O4, they rarely see and work with junior enlisted soldiers. Instead, they are likely a staff weenie working with other officers and senior NCOs.

That I can understand. When I was in I taught my troops to respect their officers because they never saw them much. I also informed my officers that "I" was the troop handler and "they" were the ones to make the big decisions (not in combat) and sign the paperwork because in combat most of the officers that did go to combat were the junior officers and they did not know much about what was going on because they did not have the experience as the junior troops.
They were some very good officers but they did not have the experience of combat. Nor did they really learn-it with the troops.
1959-1979 Today I do not know.

MSgt Robert Branscome - I encountered a SSG at a National Guard unit that had been that unit's company commander. Well-respected, targeted for promotion, but doing so would have meant "unit-hopping" (chasing available O-slots).

He elected to resign his commission and stay with that unit as an NCO, after calling his senior NCOs together and discussing it with them. A 1LT he had been mentoring got an opportunity to advance, and he stayed with that unit until he retired.

He could have easily made 1SG or SGM, but he stopped at Platoon Sergeant and said it was the best job in the world. A lot of young leaders, both enlisted and junior officers, benefited from his personal choice.

I guess it isn't always about money or privilege.

In 1951, my temporary LCDR Dad was told he had to re-enlist after 44 years because his permanent rate was CPO. After spending his shipping-over money, he was told that while he did have to ship-over, because he was also an officer, he didn't rate the money and so he had to pay it back. Surprised? He retired in 1955 after almost 48 years, several more than anyone in any armed service except WWII 5 stars considered always on active duty. BUPERS gave him his service jacket, a leather pouch

I knew a Marine Major that was passed over twice for LtCol, hH requested to revert to enlisted so that he could finish his three years he had remaining to retirement and it was approved. The highest grade he could attain was GtSgt, in order to be a MSgt, he would have needed 8 years of service as enlisted. His reasoning was that he would have only got minimal pay if he just took separation. However retiring as a GySgt on 20 years, he would draw Gysgt retired pay until he reached 30 years, then draw pay as the highest rank helt which was Major.

Maj William Maroney - That is very interesting. Was this more common as a drawdown in forces occurred after WW2? Battlefield commissioned officers would either have an option of resignation to enlisted or separation? And then at 30 years would receive highest rank held retirement pay? Quite fascinating.

SPC Paul Hruby - I recall that as traumatic for some and for families too. Korea solved the problem. It has a name like ''Crunch.''

I agree with the Major. When I first came in and was assigned to Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center for AIT, I had a pickup truck that I drove from my HOR to Colorado. A lot of miles so I took it in to the Auto craft center to service it there. Since I was in AIT for almost thirteen months I went back a few times and became friends with an E-6 who worked there. He invited m to his retirement ceremony and I went but didn't see him there as everyone who retired wore a stripe down his pants. In those days we recognized Officers as stripers because they had a stripe on the pants legs of their dress uniforms.
When I saw him next, he jumped on me for not coming. I showed him my program and accused HIM of not showing because only Officers had retired. He apologized and explained he had chosen to be reduced to enlisted after the Vietnam draw down so he could retire. He retired as a Captain as it was his highest rank.

Curious, what circumstances resulted in the LT's losing the commission before getting to essentially guaranteed CPT.

CPT (Join to see) I've seen a SPC that was Lt but resigned his commission to be enlisted. Good Soldier, just didn't loke being an officer.
Don't recall a non volunteer circumstance.

In the book Sua Sponte by Dick Couch there was an LT that had resigned his commission and was going through RASP as an E-5.

I worked with a SGG that was previously a CPT.However he didn't resign his commission. This was back in the 70s when doing reductions in force